Would you like to have a whiter, brighter smile? If so, you're not alone.
Over 40 million people in the United States whiten their teeth each year.
In order to get your best and brightest smile, it's important to choose the right whitening shade.
If your teeth are too white, they might look a little unnatural. Not white enough, and you won't notice the difference or reap the benefits of whiter teeth.
Not sure how to choose the best teeth whitening shade for you? Keep reading.
Listed below are some great tips that will help you make the perfect choice.
Benefits of Professional Teeth Whitening
If you want whiter teeth, can't you just use one of those whitening kits from the grocery store?
Technically, yes, you can. But, those kits are often not very effective.
When you use them, you also have very little control over the shade of white your teeth become. There's a greater risk that something could go wrong and you could react badly to the ingredients in the whitening solution, too.
Why take all those risks when you could have your teeth professionally whitened by a trained dentist?
When you have your teeth professionally whitened, you get to choose the specific shade of white for your teeth. You also are less likely to have a bad reaction to the whitening solution.
And, your teeth are likely to stay whiter for a longer period of time since your dentist has access to the highest quality whitening products.
Choosing the Right Teeth Whitening Shade
If you're having a hard time choosing the right whitening shade for your teeth, these guidelines can help.
Keep them in mind and it'll be easier for you to identify your current shade and choose one that improves your smile while still looking natural.
Contrary to popular belief, teeth aren't just white or not white. They can actually be quite a few different colors.
Tooth color can typically be divided into four different shade ranges :
●Shade A, a reddish brown
●Shade B, a reddish yellow
●Shade C, a gray color
●Shade D, a reddish-gray color
There are varying levels of lightness and darkness within each of these shade ranges. Take a look at your teeth and figure out which shade range they currently fall into. Then, figure out how much lighter you'd like to go within your shade range.
If you stick within your shade range but choose a lighter shade, you'll be able to brighten up your smile while still helping it to look natural.
If you're having a hard time identifying your current shade range, talk to your dentist. He or she will be able to guide you and help you choose the ideal shade for your teeth.
When it comes to choosing the specific shade of white for your teeth, there are lots of factors to take into account. Some specific factors to consider include:
●Existing stains on your teeth: If you have stains that are darkly colored or gray, they're usually hard to remove and may stick out after your teeth have been whitened.
●Crowns and fillings: Your crowns and fillings can't be lightened; if they're in a noticeable place, it's best to choose a shade of white that blends in with them.
●The whites of your eyes: A good rule of thumb is to avoid choosing a shade that is whiter than the white part of your eyes.
These are not hard and fast rules, of course. But, they're good guidelines to help you start finding the right shade of white.
With all this information in mind, how white should your teeth be?
Consider how dramatic you want the change in the shade of your teeth to be.
Most teeth whitening procedures can make your teeth anywhere from two to seven or eight shades lighter.
In many cases, a change of just two or three shades can make a big difference to the brightness and appearance of your smile. If you prefer a subtle look, limit yourself to making your teeth two or three shades whiter.
Remember, too, that you can always go back for additional whitening treatments if you are not satisfied with the whiteness of your teeth.
It's easier to make your teeth whiter later on than it is to take the whiteness away. If you feel your teeth are too white, though, you'll just have to wait for them to fade.
How to Keep Your Teeth White as Long as Possible
Once you've chosen the best shade of white and paid to have your teeth professionally whitened, you'll probably want to do whatever you can to keep your teeth white for as long as possible.
These tips can help you maintain whichever shade of white you choose:
●Brush your teeth regularly (an electric toothbrush can be better at removing stains)
●Floss your teeth regularly
●Limit your consumption of foods and drinks that stain teeth (ketchup, marinara sauce, berries, red wine, coffee, etc.)
●Increase your consumption of foods that strengthen and clean the teeth (milk, hard cheeses, carrots, celery, apples, yogurt, etc.)
●Drink coffee or tea through a straw to minimize discoloration
When you have your teeth professionally whitened, you'll notice that your results last much longer than when you whiten them at home. But, you'll still need to get touch-ups on occasion.
If you want to keep your teeth looking fresh and bright, be sure to keep up with your touchup appointments.
Stick to the schedule that your dentist recommends for the best long-term results.
As you can see, there are a lot of factors that go into choosing the ideal shade of white for your teeth.
Now that you know how to choose the best teeth whitening shade for you, it's time to schedule an appointment to get your teeth whitened!
At Sparkle Dental, we offer professional teeth whitening services that will leave your teeth noticeably whiter and brighter after just one session.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment or to learn more about our teeth whitening services.
Are you a new patient at Sparkle Dental? Make sure you fill out our new patient forms. Make sure that you print out and complete these forms before your first appointment. This will help us to speed up the new patient registration process.
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